Poll - Wintec or Thorowgood synthetic saddles?

Poll - Wintec or Thorowgood synthetic saddles

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sandi_84

sandi_84

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Which make do you prefer?

Why?

I know it's been talked about before but thought I'd do a poll before deciding which to get for my boy - with advice from saddler about size of course
 
Not a fan of the Wintec headplate but not a great fan of synthetic saddles - I'd always recommend a used leather saddle for that kind of budget, but I do understand how tempting and in some cases how useful the removable headplate is. I do think they lure people into a false sense of thinking that A they can fit their own horse easily and adapt the saddle themselves, and that B these saddles will fit every horse.
 
Thorowgood, I love mine and it fits my mare great. She has the T6 Cob. After a bad (and very expensive *think vet/physio bills*) experience with a wintec, never, ever again will I buy one!
 
In all honesty neither, but if needs must then whichever suits the horse the best as determined by a master saddler. I agree with the post above about people thinking the adjustable gullets for these saddles will make them fit any horse, but this is just not true. They don't suit all horses and whilst I love the theory of them, once you've had a decent (leather) saddle made by a good saddler, I can't imagine anyone would want to go back, I couldn't :)

If cost is an issue why not look at second hand leather saddles? A lot of these can be adjusted by the manufacturer and this would reduce the temptation for us to think we can saddle fit ourselves. I've learnt the hard way lately that I can't! Which is why I'm probably sounding a bit aggressive here, sorry! Not meant that way at all. :)
 
sbloom said:
Not a fan of the Wintec headplate but not a great fan of synthetic saddles - I'd always recommend a used leather saddle for that kind of budget, but I do understand how tempting and in some cases how useful the removable headplate is. I do think they lure people into a false sense of thinking that A they can fit their own horse easily and adapt the saddle themselves, and that B these saddles will fit every horse.
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Agree, you save me so much writing sbloom, thanks!
 
sbloom said:
Not a fan of the Wintec headplate but not a great fan of synthetic saddles - I'd always recommend a used leather saddle for that kind of budget, but I do understand how tempting and in some cases how useful the removable headplate is. I do think they lure people into a false sense of thinking that A they can fit their own horse easily and adapt the saddle themselves, and that B these saddles will fit every horse.
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I need something that is adjustable so when my boy's muscles fill out I can make sure he is still comfy and when he's done his growing I'll buy him a proper leather one. All adjustments would be made with supervision and help from experienced people/ saddle fitters - wouldn't dare attempt it on my own as I don't know enough (read as anything :o) about saddle fitting :D
 
Thorowgood by far. I find mine very comfy, I have both the T6 HW dressage and GP. I'm used to leather saddles and yes I prefer leather saddles but my Warmblood is so difficult to fit. Up until now he was always changing shape. May consider getting leather saddles for him now by for the time being he's ridden well in the Thorowgood. They also have an amazing customer service! :)
 
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bikerchickone said:
Which is why I'm probably sounding a bit aggressive here, sorry! Not meant that way at all. :)
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No not at all! :D I appreciate any input on this subject as I just don't know enough yet to make an informed decision. Don't worry I tend not to be easily offended anyway ;)
 
sandi_84 said:
No not at all! :D I appreciate any input on this subject as I just don't know enough yet to make an informed decision. Don't worry I tend not to be easily offended anyway ;)
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I'm glad about that lol! Sounds like you have it sussed anyway, you've got the help and I know exactly what you mean about changing shapes! Not sure they ever grow out of that though! ;)
 
A good quality used leather saddle will hold value, when you need to replace it you stand to lose less than buying a synthetic that has little resale value later. See what your saddler can offer you but remember they make more money on a new one than a second hand one.
 
Obviously whatever suits the horse ... but I really love Wintec saddles. Unless for whatever reason they are not a good fit for a particular horse, I can't fault them. I'm not one to dribble over leather (I'm vegan :o) although I know most people do prefer leather over synthetic because of its appearance etc, so they suit me down to the ground.
 
The Thorowgood is more comfy for your bum in my experience, but they are quite different shaped and so tend not to both fit every horse, does anyone have one you can try?
 
bikerchickone said:
I'm glad about that lol! Sounds like you have it sussed anyway, you've got the help and I know exactly what you mean about changing shapes! Not sure they ever grow out of that though! ;)
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Yeah was told the other day that Cob's can keep growing till they're about 8! :eek: He'll always change shape (why can't they just stay the same :rolleyes:) but when I trade up for a nice second hand leather job I'll be having our local friendly saddle lady out regularly to check it and re-flock when necessary :D

be positive said:
A good quality used leather saddle will hold value, when you need to replace it you stand to lose less than buying a synthetic that has little resale value later. See what your saddler can offer you but remember they make more money on a new one than a second hand one.
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Atm I just need a cheap one that'll do the job well to tide us over while I've not got a lot of money. When he's done growing up I'll have enough saved (and then some hopefully! :D) to buy a nice leather one. Until then I'm not overly fussed about the loss I'll take when I sell on the synthetic, as long as it does the job and it's comfy for my lad I'll be a happy mum :D

Misog2000 said:
The Thorowgood is more comfy for your bum in my experience, but they are quite different shaped and so tend not to both fit every horse, does anyone have one you can try?
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Unfortunately I don't know anyone who has one but after I've got some more results from this I'll be heading to the saddler's to see if they've got any I can try
 
None!! they are all frigging horrible!! Not one make have I ever got on with, sorry but I'm a saddle snob who will never change from leather.
 
I hate "Cair".... I think it's rock 'ard and very unforgiving. I've also seen some terrible examples of how they look when removed from a saddle so I would never put a Cair saddle on my horse again. I didn't know my horse well enough at the time to recognise the signs that he was telling me he was uncomfortable in a Cair Wintec until he had no choice but to explode. I listened, never put it on his back again and he's been an angel since...
 
Thorowgood, i love mine. It has the interchangable gullet and also the option of those fish inserts if needed.

Its also v comfy so great for long hacks :)

Have ridden horses with wintecs before and they werent the most comfortable. However they do now make them with seat material similar to the thorowgood so not sure what they would be like.
 
be positive said:
A good quality used leather saddle will hold value, when you need to replace it you stand to lose less than buying a synthetic that has little resale value later. See what your saddler can offer you but remember they make more money on a new one than a second hand one.
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Agreed. And horses change in all sorts of ways, not just in width at the front - though, I have to say, I've not yet had to replace a leather saddle that I've sold in 3 years. I am happy to widen and narrow the trees to a certain extent, and that has proved sufficient as far as I know for all my clients as well as flocking changes. I do fit the odd unbacked horse as well as various youngsters at different stages of training.

However if a horse shoots up in front for example, he may need a totally different panel shape. I think this is where buying second hand leather has an advantage - a synthetic will not be able to cope with that change, but you can sell on a used leather saddle for pretty much what you paid for it, and get another that does work.
 
Thorowgood. I have the T8 which is part leather and it looks brilliant, I've been complimented on it and a fellow horsey friend thought that it was a much more expensive saddle than it is. Very lightweight but good quality. I think there is a lot to be said for a good quality synthetic.
 
Have a wintec in my tackroom - was my sisters, I have used it once and have never felt so insecure in a saddle! Horrible thing it is :rolleyes:
Got a lovely Bates saddle which came with my boy though which is lovely - however I do seem to be collecting saddles - now have 10... cant wait to see which one suits my filly when she grows up!
 
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